News        from ABAC

Michael D. Chason Director of Public Relations ABAC 30 -- 2802 Moore Highway Tifton, GA 31793-2601 Phone 229-391-5055 Fax 229-391-5056 mchason@abac.edu

IMMEDIATE OCTOBER 19, 2006

HEP PROGRAM GETS REFUNDED FOR ANOTHER FIVE YEARS

TIFTON- The High School Equivalency Program (HEP) at Abraham Baldwin College has received funds in the amount of $2.1 million for the next five years to help the growing Hispanic population receive the education required to get a General Education Diploma (GED).

Javier Gonzalez, Director of the HEP and College Assistance Migrant Program (CAMP), said, “This is the second time we have received this grant. We are going into our sixth year and each cycle of funding is five years.”

In order to receive funding, certain criteria had to be met. The program had to be based at an institution of higher learning, the institution had to have a background of getting federal funds, and a proposal had to be written.

“Approximately 46 proposals were submitted, and only 12 of those proposals were approved. ABAC’s HEP Program was one of those 12. We are very fortunate to have been refunded,” Gonzalez said.

There was a change in this proposal from the previous one. An increase in target numbers due to population was added because this type of program is the only one in the state.

The main objective for this funding is to provide an alternative means to the Hispanic population that left high school. Participants live on campus for ten weeks of intensive instruction regarding the academics required to take the GED test.

“Every year, funding is set aside for 80 students to enter into the HEP Program with an expected 80 percent success rate,” Gonzalez said.

“Many who go through this program are seeking self-fulfillment and their obligations remain at home after completion of this program, while some go on to technical colleges.”

Gonzalez said the refunding of the HEP Program means that ABAC maintains its success rate for obtaining educational benefits for the Hispanic population, as well as the entities that support the migrant workers. The college also helps in playing a role in bringing about diversity to the campus through the program and the funding it receives.

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